A wave of cyberattacks targeting Nigeria’s banking system has exposed alarming cracks in the country’s digital financial infrastructure—this time, with disturbing revelations of internal betrayal. According to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, Nigerian banks are not just under attack from external cybercriminals—they’re also being sabotaged from within.
In a recent televised interview on TVC, Olukoyede disclosed that staff members of Nigerian banks are actively aiding hackers in breaching core banking systems, enabling digital heists running into billions of naira. The most prominent of these involved the theft of N9.7 billion, with additional losses of N6.7 billion and N3.7 billion traced to similar operations.
“In many of these cyber fraud cases, we discovered that bank staff are complicit,” Olukoyede said, revealing that at least six banks have already been compromised in this way.
A Coordinated Inside Job
At the heart of the scheme is a coordinated partnership between rogue bank insiders and sophisticated cyber syndicates. According to Olukoyede, these insiders install physical devices—often malware-infected or configured with remote-access tools—onto the banks’ internal systems. Once in place, hackers, sometimes operating from outside Nigeria, gain real-time access to core banking operations.
“In a matter of seconds, billions can be moved,” he noted.
Rather than transferring stolen funds in large, traceable chunks, the criminals distribute the money across hundreds of dormant or unsuspecting customer accounts, before funneling it through POS terminals and digital wallets, effectively laundering the proceeds and making recovery exceptionally difficult.
Implications: More Than Just a Heist
The scope of this digital fraud extends well beyond the stolen funds. It exposes systemic vulnerabilities within Nigerian banking institutions—vulnerabilities worsened by the very people meant to safeguard them.
1. Public Trust on the Brink
For a country pushing toward a cashless economy, such a breach could spark a crisis of confidence among the banking public. Depositors, already wary of unstable digital services and high transaction fees, now face the added fear that their money is unsafe even within the bank.
Financial analysts warn that mass distrust could lead to withdrawal spikes, increased cash hoarding, and reduced use of digital platforms, undermining progress made in fintech adoption and financial inclusion.
2. Regulatory Gaps Laid Bare
The EFCC Chairman’s revelation also raises urgent questions about the effectiveness of banking oversight and compliance systems. Despite rigorous Know-Your-Customer (KYC) rules and Central Bank regulations, internal fraud appears not only possible—but prevalent.
This suggests weak internal audits, flawed hiring processes, and inadequate cybersecurity training. For regulators and financial institutions alike, this is a wake-up call to overhaul risk management strategies and employee surveillance systems.
3. A Growing National Security Threat
Olukoyede’s account points to something far more serious than conventional fraud: economic sabotage. With cross-border elements and sophisticated laundering techniques, these cybercrimes resemble operations run by transnational syndicates.
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“This is not just fraud—it’s a national security concern,” said a cybersecurity analyst who requested anonymity. “It threatens investor confidence, disrupts economic stability, and signals how easily our financial backbone can be penetrated.”
4. The Human Factor: Internal Staff as the Weakest Link
The most damning aspect of this saga is the role played by bank employees. In environments where trust, ethics, and discretion are essential, insider betrayal signals a collapse of institutional integrity.
Experts are now calling for lifestyle audits, strict background checks, and ethics-focused HR reforms. Olukoyede himself stressed the need for banks to invest in tighter internal controls and a culture of accountability.
The EFCC’s Silent War
While the EFCC has recovered portions of the stolen funds, Olukoyede admitted that the Commission had initially remained quiet to prevent public panic and protect the stability of the financial sector. But as digital fraud escalates, silence is no longer an option.
“We are doing what is necessary to protect the integrity of the financial system,” he said.
Where Does Nigeria Go from Here?
To address the crisis, experts and regulators are calling for a multi-pronged response, including:
Mandatory cybersecurity certification for all banking staff
Real-time interbank fraud-monitoring systems
Central Bank-led digital risk audits across institutions
Partnerships with global cybercrime agencies
Whistleblower protections for employees who expose internal fraud
A System on the Brink
The revelations surrounding the N9.7 billion heist may be only the tip of the iceberg. If insider fraud continues unchecked, Nigeria risks not just financial loss—but a full-blown collapse of confidence in its banking system.
As the EFCC pushes forward with its investigations, all eyes are now on bank executives, regulators, and the federal government to act decisively.
Because in a digital age, the firewall is only as strong as the people behind it.